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Boxing burns a body good

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kathrine McDowell
  • 460th Space Wing Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  The idea of getting in a 24 ft. by 24 ft. boxing ring may prove daunting too most, but not to Staff Sgt. Joshua Hinton, Air Reserve Personnel Center's Directorate of Communications and Information knowledge operations manager.

The Miguel Cotto fan had always been curious about the sport. The extra spark of inspiration came two months ago from watching a boxing special, which followed the four weeks of training before Cotto's November bout last year.

"It's great for stress relief," said Sergeant Hinton, "and a good way to get into shape.

"I used to hop on a treadmill and think a mile and a half was a good enough amount. Now I don't feel anything until the third mile."

In the two months Segeant Hinton has been boxing, he's taken 3 minutes off his run time.
Cardiovascular improvement is far from the only thing boxing can improve.

"It's not just about hitting the bag either," said Glenn Goodson, the four-and-a-half-year owner of A1 Boxing and registered Level 2 coach." It's about conditioning, the means of surviving everything."
"Boxing is a strenuous, multifunctional, full body workout from your grip to your footwork," he continued. "It's a sport that uses more of your body for harder work and longer intervals than other sports."

Exercise classes focused on boxing, can burn 800 to 1,000 calories in a one hour workout. Each session provides strength training, range of motion exercises with resistance, eye-hand coordination and calisthenics work. Pair those benefits with boosts to self esteem and confidence and your overall health has just gone up a notch.

Boxing is for all ages and all fitness levels.

"We're all open arms," said Goodson referring to a combatives training class for the Colorado National Guard.

Whether you're looking to get the guts to throw your first punch or incorporate the sweet science into your daily workout regimen, boxing training classes offer an efficient way to achieving positive fitness gains.

"Of course," Mr. Goodson said, "you have to like it."

For more information on the Air Force transition to the new fitness program, go http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/affitnessprogram/index.asp.